Last week, I had the honour of attending the Pet Business Conference organised by the Pet Industry Federation (PIF). As a specialist recruiter in the Veterinary and Pet Markets, it was a privilege to be invited to join such a passionate and innovative community.

What made this event truly stand out was its intimate setting. Hosted at Cranfield University—a modern and professional venue—it created the perfect environment for meaningful conversations and authentic networking. I had the chance to reconnect with valued friends in industry and make new relationships with inspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

The agenda was packed with thought-provoking talks and panels. I particularly enjoyed the panel discussion hosted by the ever-charged and dynamic Clayton Payne (Founder of Pet Business Disruptors Podcast). It was great to hear from three key leaders in the pet industry, Peter Roy (Nutriment), Claire Gavin (Founder, Innovation Pets) and Bob Hanson (Pets Around The World), who shared their experiences on transforming innovation into sustainable business growth. Their real-life stories and practical advice offered a refreshing look into the possibilities ahead for our sector.

One standout moment for me was the session on AI and emerging technologies. This was Q&A session with Kirsty Skeates (Founder & Owner of PetBizAi.App) and Scarlett Trillia(CEO, Porter Labs). It’s exciting to see how digital innovation is already beginning to shape the future of pet care and pet businesses. As someone deeply involved in talent acquisition, I couldn’t help but think about how these changes will also influence the types of roles and skill sets in demand in the coming years as Pet businesses evolve.

Did you know AI Hallucination is real thing – you need to be able to use AI smartly and challenge the output – Have you verified the info? Did you give AI enough context and info to generate an accurate output?

On the day I attended, we had 6 Innovation Pitches from start up businesses who presented on their company brand - we were encouraged to vote for our favourite based on specific criteria including Creativity, Sustainability, Innovation etc. A range of bespoke pet furniture, nutritional Supplements, dog car seats and even gaming and interactive platforms for dogs were all represented.

The winner was The Muzzle Movement, presented by Clara Hewson who delivered a compelling pitch and showcased an encouraging video case study of a client they had recently helped with their product.

We then had an extremely topical presentation from Hannah Lyford (NielsenIQ), Megan Niven (CACI) and Lara Baitarian (CACI) who explained the importance and the use of data insights for enhancing your business proposition. For example, knowing the buying habits of your customers in a particular postcode area, as well as what sort of TV programs they watch, may impact the pricing of your pet products in your retail store!!

Some really clever analytics were demonstrated and surprisingly, I discovered lots or resources are available for free if you know where to look and who to ask! 

Beyond the formal sessions, what truly resonated with me was the sense of shared purpose. Whether speaking with founders of startups or leaders of established brands, there was a clear commitment to doing business in an honest, customer-centric way—with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of pets.

Events like these remind me why I love what I do. I came away not just with new connections, but with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for helping businesses grow through great people and helping talented individuals find meaningful careers in this incredible industry.

Many thanks to the incredible team at PIF – in particular, Daniel Everitt and Nigel Baker, for inviting me to this event.

I’ll definitely be there next year to soak up more knowledge and positive energy!

If you would like to have a confidential conversation about your own career or recruitment in your business please contact me!

📧 Waheeda@animalpeoplerecruitment.com

📱01214680934